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If you donРІР‚в„ўt get a clear answer, consider doing business with someone else. That includes asking any company thatРІР‚в„ўs supposed to be protecting your data how it keeps that information private. In an age where the profits of many tech companies hinge on their ability to collect and sell data, is it realistic to expect that AV companies would behave any differently?Р”В¬hris Brazdziunas, chief product officer for the cybersecurity company ThreatX, says consumers need to be wary anytime they use a РІР‚СљfreeРІР‚Сњ service that interacts with their data.

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Short of reaching out to each AV software provider with direct questions-which we are currently doing-thereРІР‚в„ўs not much you can do. ItРІР‚в„ўs just not realistic for a consumer to read them and understand whatРІР‚в„ўs happening.РІР‚Сњ

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РІР‚СљFor the free options, itРІР‚в„ўs very difficult to know what theyРІР‚в„ўre doing and not doing with the data theyРІР‚в„ўre collecting,РІР‚Сњ Fitzgerald says, РІР‚Сљbecause the terms in the policy are so vague. In its privacy policy, ZoneAlarm-yet another AV software maker included in our ratings-says that it shares search information with a firm called CodeFuel that offers РІР‚Сљmonetization solutions for websites, extensions, apps, and search engines.РІР‚Сњ But beyond that, itРІР‚в„ўs hard to find the details you need to make an informed decision about what software to use. РІР‚СљIronically, the Avast and AVG terms are clearer than most about what they share,РІР‚Сњ he says. Right now thereРІР‚в„ўs no straightforward answer.Р”Р„ quick review of the privacy policies posted by a few of the companies in our AV software ratings yields few clues, according to CR privacy researcher Bill Fitzgerald. The next big question: Do other AV companies share your data in this way?

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AvastРІР‚в„ўs website provides instructions on how to limit data collection, including halting distribution to third parties for РІР‚Сљanalysis of trends, business, and marketing.РІР‚Сњ

One thing you can do right now, though, is adjust your privacy settings. Having your search history and internet-browsing habits collected and sold may make you uncomfortable, but antivirus software goes a long way toward keeping malware out of your computer and fending off ransomware, phishing attacks, and other threats.

And, according to security experts, the answer is no. So the big question for consumers is should they now uninstall their Avast AV software. ButР’В AvastРІР‚в„ўs privacy policy does say that consumer data is РІР‚Сљstripped and de-identifiedРІР‚в„ў and used by Jumpshot to РІР‚Сљprovide trend analyticsРІР‚Сњ for other companies.

The site doesnРІР‚в„ўt mention anything about sharing data with outside companies. On its website, Avast says that most of the companyРІР‚в„ўs offerings collect some kind of anonymous user data, which is then used to improve the products and help the company react quickly to security threats. It's now in the process of rolling out that prompt to all existing AV users. In July 2019, the company began testing a prompt that explicitly asked users whether they wanted to opt-in to such data-sharing during all new downloads of its desktop AV software. In a blog post on Tuesday, Avast said: 'While we acted fully within legal bounds, always remaining vigilant to protect our users' privacy, we have listened to recent feedback and have already taken steps to align with the expectations of our users.' РІР‚СљDo any of us really know how much data weРІР‚в„ўre giving away?РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљThis one really struck me,РІР‚Сњ says Jim Hansen, president and chief operating officer of the cybersecurity company Swimlane. ThatРІР‚в„ўs why many people felt betrayed when they learned about AvastРІР‚в„ўs stance on digital privacy. The same goes for AvastРІР‚в„ўs AVG-branded software.

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And, according to Consumer Reports testers, it ranks among the best free security software options available to PC and Mac owners. The software is used by more than 400 million people around the world, Avast says.